Five friends have died from cancer since 2021. Another - now two - friends and a close relative are currently recovering from cancer, it's a horrible disease that CRUK are constantly striving to find new innovative cures for.

I had a very tough start to this ride. A combination of illness, unseasonably cold and wet weather, topped off with little things like punctures and an enforced detour which added distance and climbs when I wasn't match fit all contrived to put me in a bad place mentally. I was ready to throw in the towel and hire a car so created this page with a 500mile line in the sand - just 'in case'.

Thankfully things improved and I was able to keep going and now - even though the weather isn't great and I've had a repeat of the earlier stomach issues - I'm back on track to cycle round the coast of Ireland 🤞

As of today, 27th June, day 22 of the challenge, I've cycled 1483km or 922miles.

This is what I originally wrote:

I'm cycling 800km - 500miles around the eastern and southern coastlines of Ireland. I've already started and it's been very tough with unseasonably cold and wet weather, stomach issues, and a body that's five years older than when I did the last big tour!

Thank you for donating and helping CRUK to research new treatments for this horrible disease.

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